Behemoth
noun /bɪˈhiː.məθ/ — An enormous, powerful creature or thing
Definition
A creature of enormous size and power — from the Bible's Book of Job, where it is described alongside Leviathan. Used figuratively for anything of intimidating mass and momentum.
Beyond the definition
Power expressed as sheer physical mass. A behemoth doesn't threaten — it simply occupies. Its presence is the threat.
Origin & history
From Hebrew 'behemoth' (plural of 'behema', beast) — possibly from Egyptian 'p-ehe-mau' (water ox). Described in Job 40 as the greatest of God's creatures.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The infrastructure project was a behemoth — it consumed resources and generated controversy in equal proportion for a decade.
She drove an ancient behemoth of a car that somehow kept surviving everything.
Amazon became the retail behemoth by doing many small things slightly better for slightly longer.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Behemoth” when the meaning fits your context: A creature of enormous size and power — from the Bible's Book of Job, where it is described alongside Leviathan. Used figuratively for anything of intimidating mass and momentum.
Synonyms
leviathan, titan, colossus, giant, mammoth
Antonyms
pygmy, minnow, lightweight
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Behemoth" mean?
Behemoth is noun meaning: An enormous, powerful creature or thing. A creature of enormous size and power — from the Bible's Book of Job, where it is described alongside Leviathan. Used figuratively for anything of intimidating mass and momentum.
Where does the word "Behemoth" come from?
From Hebrew 'behemoth' (plural of 'behema', beast) — possibly from Egyptian 'p-ehe-mau' (water ox). Described in Job 40 as the greatest of God's creatures.